Mr. Hubert Fitzpatrick:

I will start and then I want my colleagues to come in. We need full accountability in this regard. Deputy Casey asked how many developments start with planning drawings. No development should do so. Under the new building control system, one must submit construction drawings. I share the Deputy's view that many one-off houses may be built on planning drawings which is totally unacceptable. Detailed construction drawings need to be prepared in for all builds.

Should building control regulation rest with the local authority? The current system provides for assigned certifiers to be appointed from within the registered architect, the registered building surveyor and the chartered engineer. It has the potential to work very effectively. The resources of the building control authority should be increased to ensure that they have greater monitoring and enforcement powers. The system can work well.

The problem that arose 17 years ago is an example of what was often the case when we did not have adequate supervision and inspection of buildings built. I hope that that would not happen today. An assigned certifier would ensure at the outset that the damp-proofing is put in at the right area. That is a critical part of any inspection.

We need to educate the public about the value of building control. Many people building one-off houses in particular do not appreciate the value of the current Building Control (Amendment) Regulations and the necessity to have a professional come in and certify compliance with the building regulations. It is for that reason that the opt-out option for people building one-off houses should be removed. These builds should be brought back into full compliance with building control as it is for all other developments.

Any development or renovation works which require a fire certificate will require compliance with the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations. That should require the appointment of an assigned certifier and a competent builder to undertake those works. If that is being policed effectively, any work, such as the fire certificate, should be fully in compliance with the building regulations. That would address some of those issues.

Some self-builders are opting out because they are of the view that the cost of compliance with building control is a lot greater than it is. It was said it could cost €15,000 to comply with Building Control (Amendment) Regulations. According to our information, the real cost of compliance with the regulations could be closer to €2,000 or €2,500 per assigned certifier. Everybody should have an obligation to prepare detailed construction drawings for anything that they are building.

I will let my colleagues come in with regard to accountability, foremen on site and issues of that nature.